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The Lowedown: Auf wiedersehen, 'Bocephus'

This week, country crooner Hank Williams Jr. reminded us all why Hitler comparisons are best reserved for kittens with tiny mustaches.

In an interview Monday on Fox News, the fairly unbalanced Williams likened Obama’s recent outing on the links with Republican rival House Speaker John Boehner to “Hitler playing golf with (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu.” He also called Obama “the enemy.”

Hours later, ESPN yanked Williams’ classic intro from “Monday Night Football.” Williams apologized the following day for making a “dumb statement.” However, on Thursday, both the singer and the network took credit for permanently pulling the plug on their partnership and the song that’s been an “MNF” staple since 1989.

It’s a classic case of he said, she said, Hank said Hitler.

Since Williams owns the publishing rights to the song, they’ll be no more “Rowdy Friends” coming over the ESPN airwaves Monday night. Instead, the network plans to use the narrated segment that usually runs at the beginning of its telecast as a preview just before kickoff. This week’s Bear-Lions game will feature an intro by former Detroit star Barry Sanders.

That’s too bad.

For a second there, it was really looking like the perfect opportunity for a Night Ranger comeback: “Sister Christian, oh, the time has come ... for some football!”

Maybe they could change their name to Monday Night Ranger.

Or maybe not.

Either way, ‘Bocephus” has left the building. And while I’m sure he’s got a shotgun, a rifle and a four-wheel drive, this is one Obama-Hitler-golf analogy a country boy can’t survive.

At least not on ESPN.

Change I can believe in

Give Obama a little credit, Hank.

While it’s not exactly the change the president promised, things are certainly looking different in the NFL.

The pain in Peyton Manning’s $90 million neck has become a world of pain for the struggling Colts, who are 0-4 this season as their star quarterback recovers from three neck and spine surgeries. Meanwhile, with Curtis Painter filling in, Indy has looked like — well, Indy with Curtis Painter filling in.

The 49ers are 3-1 and atop their division after defeating the Eagles (1-3) and QB Michael Vick, who signed a $100 million deal in the offseason, was knocked out Week 2’s loss to the Falcons with a concussion and declared Philly’s “Dream Team” dead earlier this week — because nothing says motivation like calling yourself dead.

And then there are the Lions.

Detroit and defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay, both in the NFC North, are the NFL’s only remaining undefeated teams through the first quarter of the season. A year ago, there was just one unbeaten team after four weeks: the Chiefs, who lost to Manning and the Colts in Week 5, 19-9.

In 2010, the Lions were 0-4 entering Week 5, when they blasted the Rams, 44-6, for their first win of the season. Detroit finished 6-10 but ended the season with four straight wins over the Packers, Bucs, Dolphins and Vikings.

But it’s not just the fact the once-lowly Lions are winning again that’s a surprise. It’s how they are winning. Down 27-3 last week at Dallas, Detroit came back to win, 34-30. A week earlier, the Lions trailed at Minnesota, 20-0, before winning in overtime, 26-23.

A big part of the Lions’ transformation has been wide receiver Calvin “Megatron” Johnson, who has two touchdown grabs in each of Detroit’s wins this season. That’s eight touchdowns in four games so far for Johnson, who totaled 12 TDs in 16 games last season. Now, he has a chance to make it 10, as the Lions get set for their first “Monday Night Football” appearance in 10 years.